HUNT BALL will move from handicap company to Grade One level to contest the Betfred Bowl at Aintree next week.

Now on a mark of 154 after his popular success at the Cheltenham Festival, the Keiran Burke-trained seven-year-old has staggeringly risen over 80lb in the ratings since his victory at Folkestone in November.

Burke said: He’ll run in the Bowl because we want to know how good he is.

“There were alternatives, but this is the right thing to do. Everything put up against him so far he has beaten well, but this is a different level.

“I know he still has to improve a hell of a lot to be a Gold Cup horse next year. But if he shows at Aintree what I think he might be capable of, you couldn’t rule it out.

“It’s a new era now. There will be no Denman or Kauto Star in the way.”

Meanwhile, connections of Forpadydeplasterer are in no hurry to decide whether to give the 10-year-old a spin over the Grand National fences or stick to conventional obstacles at Aintree next week.

Forpadydeplasterer has been handed top weight of 11st 12lb in the John Smith’s Topham Chase at the famous course a week today.

He will also be given an entry in the John Smith’s Melling Chase on the Mildmay course the same day.